Food packaging

ABSTRACT

Food packaging ( 50 ) has a food vessel ( 52 ) and a food tray ( 54 ). The vessel has an upper lip ( 56 ) and an inwardly projecting ledge ( 58 ) below the upper lip. The food tray has a pair of opposed handle structures ( 70   a,    70   b ) and a tray portion ( 72 ) depending from the handle structures. Each handle structure has an outwardly projecting protuberance ( 82 ). The food tray is positioned within the food vessel with each protuberance resting on the inwardly projecting ledge such that the tray portion is suspended within the food vessel by the handle structures. This forms two food compartments ( 90, 92 ): one ( 90 ) below and one ( 92 ) above the tray portion. The vessel may be topped by a topping film ( 98 ).

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to food packaging.

A great variety of packaged convenience foods are available to a consumer. However, there is a continuing need for packaged convenience foods that suit the tastes of as many consumers as possible.

SUMMARY

In an aspect of the present invention, food packaging has a food vessel and a food tray. The vessel has an upper lip and an inwardly projecting ledge below the upper lip. The food tray has a pair of opposed handle structures and a tray portion depending from the handle structures. Each handle structure has an outwardly projecting protuberance. The food tray is positioned within the food vessel with each protuberance resting on the inwardly projecting ledge such that the tray portion is suspended within the food vessel by the handle structures. This forms two food compartments: one below and one above the tray portion. The vessel may be topped by a topping film.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate example embodiments of this invention,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of food packaging made in accordance with an embodiment,

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the packaging of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a food bowl of the packaging of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the packaging of FIG. 1 shown containing food components and covered with a topping film,

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the packaging of FIG. 1 containing food components showing the packaging in use,

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view along the lines 7A-7A of FIG. 1,

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the food bowl of the food packaging of FIG. 1 and a tray in accordance with another embodiment,

FIGS. 8 to 13 are perspective views of trays made in accordance with different embodiments, each for use with the food bowl of FIG. 1,

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a food bowl made in accordance with another embodiment,

FIG. 15A is a cross-sectional view of the food packaging in accordance with another embodiment,

FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view of the food packaging in accordance with another embodiment, and

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a food bowl made in accordance with another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning to FIGS. 1 to 3, food packaging 50 has a food vessel and a food tray 54 which rests within the food vessel.

The example food vessel is a food bowl 52 with a circumferential upper lip 56 and an inwardly projecting continuous circumferential ledge 58 in the side wall 60 of the bowl below the upper lip 56. As will be apparent, the side wall 60 of the bowl is smooth and terminates at base wall 62.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 food tray 54 has a pair of opposed handle structures 70 a, 70 b with a disc-shaped tray portion 72 depending from the handle structures 70 a, 70 b. Each handle structure 70 a, 70 b has a pair of arms 74, 76 extending upwardly from the tray portion 72 and terminating in a cross-bar 80 which bridges the pair of arms. The cross-bar 80 has an outwardly projecting protuberance lip 82. The arms 74, 76 are joined at their basal ends by a reinforcing ridge 84. In consequence, there is an opening 86 through the handle structures between the pair of arms 74, 76; this opening is sized so as to be able to receive the thumb of a user. The cross-bar 80 is curved with a radius of curvature matching the radius of curvature of the bowl 52 at the ledge 58. The tray portion 72 of food tray 54 has a plurality of through holes 88 arranged in a pattern of concentric circles.

The food tray 54 can be positioned within the bowl 52 with the protuberance lip 82 of each handle structure 70 a, 70 b resting on the inwardly projecting ledge 58 such that the tray portion 72 is suspended within the bowl by the handle structures 70 a, 70 b as is illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 7A. In this regard, the diameter of the tray portion 72 may be chosen so as to be slightly less than the diameter of the bowl 52 at the level where the tray portion is suspended within the bowl by the handle structures. Because the cross-bars 80 have a radius of curvature matching that of the bowl at the ledge 58, the tray portion 72 can be suspended within the bowl 52 at any angular orientation of the food tray 54 with respect to the bowl 52. The cross-bars are laterally elongated so as to extend along a section of the ledge. This enhances the stability of the food tray within the bowl. The cross-bars 80 are designed so that, with the tray portion suspended within the bowl, the protuberance lips 82 of the cross-bars extend in close proximity to the side wall 60 of the bowl so that there is insufficient space between the outside edge of protuberance lips 82 and the bowl side wall 60 to admit a finger of a user. It will be apparent from FIG. 7A that, with the food tray 54 resting within the bowl 52, the bowl is divided into a lower compartment 90 and an upper compartment 92.

Food packaging 50 can be used to package a convenience food. For example, with reference to FIG. 4, bowl 52 may hold a first component 94 of a convenience food such as a food component that includes a liquid: for example, the first food component could comprise meat and a sauce. Food tray 54 may hold a second food component 86, such as a solid component, for example, pasta.

Both the bowl 52 and food tray 54 may be made of a microwaveable material such as polypropylene. The bowl may be constructed by an injection moulding or thermoforming process. The tray could be constructed by injection moulding, or by a thermoforming process followed by secondary operations.

To package a convenience food, a first food component may be added to bowl 52, food tray 54 may be placed within the bowl so that the tray portion 72 is suspended by handle structures 70 a, 70 b and a second food component added on top of the tray portion 72. Next a topping film 98 may be adhered to the upper lip 56 of the bowl. The topping film may be a self-venting film or a steam impervious film. Typically, the food components will be frozen. To prepare the convenience food, the consumer may simply place the filled food packaging of FIG. 4 in the microwave where the film 80 is self-venting. If the film is not self-venting, a portion of the film may be peeled back or the film may be punctured prior to microwave heating or cooking.

During microwave heating or cooking, the openings 88 in the tray portion 72 allow moisture from the first food component to rise through the second food component as steam.

Where the topping film 98 is a peelable film, at the conclusion of microwave heating or cooking, the consumer may peel away the film. Next, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the user may place a thumb (or finger) at and within the opening 86 in each handle structure 70 a, 70 b and draw upwardly on the cross-bars 80 of the handle structures to move the food tray 54 upwardly along the side wall 60 of the bowl. Once the cross-bars reach the top of the bowl, the user may grasp the cross-bars between the thumb and fingers of both hands, lift the food tray above the bowl, and tip the food tray to dispense (all or a selected amount of) the second food component into the first food component, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The food components may be stirred together, as desired and, optionally, consumed directly from the bowl 52.

A user also has the option of dispensing the second food component into a separate food container if the user wished to enjoy the food components separately.

Turning to FIGS. 7A and 7B, optionally food bowl 52 can be used with a second food tray 154 rather than with the aforedescribed first food tray 54. Second food tray 154 is similar to first food tray 54 except that the arms of handle structures 170 a, 170 b of food tray 154 are longer than the arms of handle structures 70 a, 70 b of food tray 54 and the diameter of the tray portion 172 of food tray 154 is less than the diameter of the tray portion 72 of food tray 54. In consequence, tray portion 174 of food tray 154, when suspended within bowl 52 by handle structures 170 a, 170 b, is positioned deeper within the bowl than is tray portion 74 of food tray 54. Thus, the first food compartment 190 formed within bowl 52 by food tray 154 is smaller than the first food compartment 90 formed within bowl 52 by food tray 54 and the second food compartment 192 formed within bowl 52 by food tray 154 is larger than the second food compartment 92 formed within bowl 52 by food tray 54. This adapts the food packaging for use with a convenience food with different relative portions of the first and second food components. Advantageously, therefore, different convenience foods can be packaged in the same food bowl 52 by using different food trays.

A variety of differently designed food trays may be used with food bowl 52. For example, turning to FIG. 8, a food tray 254 has handle structures 270 a, 270 b each with an upstanding wall 274 terminating in an outwardly projecting protuberance lip 282. Each wall 274 is buttressed by a radially inwardly directed fin 276 that is joined to the middle of the wall 274. The sides of each fin have raised dimples 277. The holes 288 in the tray portion 272 of the food tray 254 have a different pattern. In using food tray 254, the user may grip the opposed fins 276 of the tray. The dimples frictionally enhance the grip of the tray. Optionally, the dimples may be concave rather than raised.

FIG. 9 illustrates another food tray 354 that may be used with bowl 52. Food tray 354 has a pair of spaced fins 376 bridged by a cross-bar 380 with protuberance lip 382. The fins have dimples 377 on their outer sides. The tray portion 372 of food tray 354 has no through holes and so is suited for use with a food component that might otherwise drop through holes in the tray portion. In use, the user has the option of gripping the outer surface of each pair of fins between thumb and fingers or placing a thumb (or finger) in the hole 386 formed between the pair of fins 376 at the cross-bar 380 of each handle structure 370 a, 370 b in order to raise the food tray 354.

Turning to FIG. 10, food tray 454 has handle structures 470 a, 470 b each with a concavely curved upstanding wall 474 terminating at either end in an outwardly projecting protuberance finger 480, 480′. The convex curve of wall 474 strengthens the wall. When in place within the bowl, the protuberance fingers rest on the ledge of the bowl. A user may grip the inner and outer sides of each wall in 474 order to lift the food tray 454 from the bowl.

The food tray 554 of FIG. 11 is similar to the food tray 254 of FIG. 8 except that the single fin of each handle structure of food tray 254 is replaced by a pair of adjacent fins 576 and 576′ in food tray 554. Thus, each handle structure 570 a, 570 b of food tray 554 has an upstanding wall terminating in an outwardly projecting protuberance lip 582. The fins 576, 576′ are shown smooth walled which, especially for lighter second food components, may provide a sufficient gripping surface to allow a user to lift the food tray from the bowl.

The tray portion 672 of the food tray 654 of FIG. 12 has opposed cut-out areas 671 from which upstanding walls 674 of handle structures 670 a, 670 b extend. The top of each upstanding wall 674 curves outwardly and protuberance fingers 680, 680′ extend outwardly from the top of each wall at either end of the wall. The protuberance fingers are designed to rest on the ledge of the bowl when the food tray 654 is placed within the bowl. There is an opening 687 between the protuberance fingers such that a user's finger will fit between the wall 674 and the side wall of the bowl so that the user can raise the food tray 654 either by hooking his or her fingers under the outwardly curved top of each wall 674 or by gripping the outer and inner sides of each wall 674.

The tray portion 772 of food tray 754 of FIG. 13 has opposed cut-out areas 771 from which upstanding walls 774 of handle structures 770 a, 770 b extend. Each wall 774 terminates in an outwardly protruding protuberance flange 780 that rests on the shelf of the bowl when the food tray 754 is placed within the bowl. The user may grip opposite ends of the flange 780 to raise the food tray from the bowl. The tray portion 772 has holes in the nature of slots 788 which may allow a greater amount of steam from the lower food component to pass through the upper food component during cooking.

Each of the described food trays may also be used with the food bowl 152 of FIG. 14. Referencing FIG. 14, food bowl 152 is a bowl similar to bowl 52 of FIG. 2 except that its side wall 160 has an array of inwardly directed dimples 161 extending medially between the base wall 162 of the bowl and its upper lip 156. In use, with a food tray set within bowl 152, the dimples abut and frictionally engage the outer periphery of the tray portion of the food tray when the protuberances of the food tray rest on the inwardly directed ledge 158 of the bowl. Thus, the dimples assist to further stabilize the food tray within the bowl.

Optionally, as illustrated in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the dimples 261 of the bowl 252 may be more vertically elongated than the dimples of bowl 152 of FIG. 14 so that they will abut the outer periphery of the tray portion of both food trays 54 and 154 with different length handle structures.

Each of the described food trays may also be used with the food bowl 352 of FIG. 16. Food bowl 352 is a bowl similar to bowl 52 of FIG. 2 except that its side wall 360 has an array of inwardly directed lugs 361, 363 extending medially between the base wall 362 of the bowl and its upper lip 356. In use, a food tray is positively set within bowl 352 such that the tray portion of the food tray snaps under lugs 363 to rest on lugs 361 when the protuberances of the food tray rest on the inwardly directed ledge 358 of the bowl. This strongly seats the food tray within the bowl.

While the example food trays are shown with a tray portion which is preferably a wall-less platform, optionally, the tray portion could be a platform with a peripheral wall.

While the example food vessels are round bowls, the food vessels may have any other desired shape (although this may constrain the orientation of the food tray within the food vessel).

Other features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the invention is defined in the claims. 

1. Food packaging, comprising: a food vessel having an upper lip and an inwardly projecting ledge below the upper lip; and a food tray having a pair of opposed handle structures and a tray portion depending from the handle structures, each handle structure having an outwardly projecting protuberance, the food tray positioned within the food vessel with each protuberance resting on the inwardly projecting ledge such that the tray portion is suspended within the food vessel by the handle structures.
 2. The packaging according to claim 1 wherein the inwardly projecting ledge is a continuous ledge extending about a circumference of the food vessel.
 3. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the tray portion has a plurality of through holes.
 4. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein each protuberance is laterally elongated so as to extend along a section of the ledge.
 5. The packaging according to claim 1 comprising an opening between each protuberance and a base of each handle structure sized to receive a thumb or finger of a user.
 6. The packaging according to claim 1, comprising a topping film adhered to said upper lip of the food vessel.
 7. The packaging according to claim 1 comprising a first food component within the vessel below the tray portion of the food tray and a second food component supported on the tray portion of the food tray.
 8. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the food vessel is a bowl.
 9. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein each protuberance is laterally elongated so as to extend along a section of the ledge.
 10. The packaging according to claim 9 further comprising an opening between each protuberance and a base of each handle structure sized to receive a thumb or finger of a user.
 11. The packaging according to claim 10 wherein each handle structure comprises a pair of arms extending upwardly from the tray portion terminating in a cross-bar bridging the pair of arms, the cross-bar comprising the protuberance of each handle structure.
 12. The packaging according to claim 8, wherein each protuberance has a radius of curvature matching a radius of curvature of the bowl at the inwardly projecting ledge.
 13. The packaging according to claim 12 wherein an outer edge of each cross-bar lies in close proximity to a side wall of the bowl so as not to admit a finger of a user between the cross-bar and the side wall whereby to encourage the user to remove the food tray from the bowl by placing a thumb or finger through each opening and drawing the food tray upwardly along the side wall of the bowl.
 14. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the handle structures comprise opposed inwardly directed fins.
 15. The packaging according to claim 14 wherein each fin has dimpled sides.
 16. The packaging according to claim 8, wherein the bowl has a circumferential array of inwardly directed dimples extending medially between a base of the bowl and the upper lip frictionally engaging the tray portion of the food tray.
 17. A food packaging system, comprising: a food vessel having an upper lip and an inwardly projecting ledge below the upper lip; a first food tray having a pair of opposed first handle structures and a first tray portion depending from the first handle structures, each first handle structure having an outwardly projecting first protuberance, the first food tray positionable within the food vessel with each first protuberance resting on the inwardly projecting ledge such that the first tray portion is suspended within the food vessel by the first handle structures; and a second food tray having a pair of opposed second handle structures and a second tray portion depending from the second handle structures, each second handle structure having an outwardly projecting second protuberance, the second handle structures being longer than the first handle structures, the second food tray positionable within the food vessel with each second protuberance resting on the inwardly projecting ledge such that the second tray portion is suspended within the food vessel by the second handle structures at a level below which the first tray portion is located when suspended within the food vessel; and whereby a first food component may be added to the food vessel, one of the first food tray and the second food tray positioned within the food vessel, a second food component added on top of the one of first food tray and second food tray, and a topping film adhered to the upper lip of the food vessel to create a food package.
 18. The packaging according to claim 17 wherein the bowl has a circumferential array of inwardly directed dimples extending medially between a base of the bowl and the upper lip, the dimples for frictionally engaging the first tray portion of the first food tray when positioned within the food vessel with each first protuberance resting on the inwardly projecting ledge and for frictionally engaging the second tray portion of the second food tray when positioned within the food vessel with each second protuberance resting on the inwardly projecting ledge.
 19. A packaged convenience food comprising: a food vessel having an upper lip, a side wall, a base wall, and an inwardly projecting ledge in the side wall; a food tray having a pair of opposed handle structures and a tray portion depending from the handle structures, each handle structure having an outwardly projecting protuberance, the food tray positioned within the food vessel with each protuberance resting on the inwardly projecting ledge such that the tray portion is suspended within the food vessel by the handle structures; a topping film adhered to the upper lip of the food vessel; a first food component within the food vessel between the base wall of the food vessel and the tray portion of the food tray; and a second food component within the food vessel on top of the tray portion.
 20. The packaged convenience food according to claim 19, wherein the bowl has a circumferential array of inwardly directed dimples extending medially between a base of the bowl and the upper lip, the dimples frictionally engaging the tray portion of the food tray. 